“In my initial dissent in this proceeding, I observed that “[n]ow is not the time for this Commission to begin retreating from its incentive policy on needed transmission lines.” And today, if we are going to produce less carbon dioxide when generating electricity, we’ll need more transmission lines to move cleaner sources of power to those who need it. In particular, because RITELine will allow power to move from the west to the east, this project can help nuclear and wind power move from the west, where it is produced, to the east, where it is needed.
1

“This action thus sets up a collision between two federal agencies that regulate the energy industry. That is, while the Environmental Protection Agency is moving to limit carbon dioxide, which will require more transmission lines, this Commission is changing its policies on transmission incentives in a manner that actually discourages the very transmission that will be needed to satisfy EPA requirements.

“In reducing the usual incentive from 150 to 100 basis points, the Commission makes a significant policy change without justification for that change.”

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1 See the application submitted by RITELine at page 27, submitted on July 18, 2011 in Docket No. ER11-4070.